WO2000049250A1

WO2000049250A1 - Adjustable locking device such as for sliding doors and windows

Info

Publication number: WO2000049250A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Gad Avganim
Original assignee: Alexander Gad Avganim
Priority date: 1999-02-21
Filing date: 2000-02-17
Publication date: 2000-08-24
Also published as: DE60002561T2; DE60002561D1; EP1155206B1; AU2570200A; EP1155206A1; IL128626A0; IL128626A

Abstract

A locking device for interlocking two members with an adjustable distance therebetween. There is provided a male lock member (24) having a spindle (26) formed with a friction surface (28a), and a female lock member (10) with cavity (16) into which the spindle (26) is insertable. Over the cavity (16) a spring urged reciprocable prismatic member (18) with a counter friction surface (18a) is installed, so that the two friction surfaces (28a, 18a) are in overlapping contact. A standard key-operated locking device (22, 222) is used to hold the friction surface of the female member (10) tightly against the friction surface of the male member (24), thus attaining the locked position of the device. The device is particularly useful for slide doors and windows.

Description

ADJUSTABLE LOCKING DEVICE SUCH AS FOR SLIDING

DOORS AND WINDOWS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to locking devices.

The invention can be applied to a large range of applications,

but is particularly useful for securing sliding doors and windows, and

therefore mainly described in that context.

Presently, locks for slidable doors can be used only in the

completely locked position where the door is tightly shut against the

door jamb, requiring high precision matching of the contacting

surfaces.

It is however sometimes desirable to lock one member against

the other in a certain, small distanced relation to each other. For

example, in the case of slidable windows, say during summertime,

one would sometimes wish to leave the windows slightly open,

allowing a breeze of air to flow between the wings (or wing and

window jamb), but still to maintain security against burglary.

It is therefore the general object of the invention to provide a

device for locking to each other a pair of members that need to not

be, when in the locked position, tightly engaged to each other. It is a further object of the invention to provide a locking device

of a universal nature, namely that can be useful for various

purposes and applications.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a locking

device based on enhanced friction engagement between a male and

a female members securable at different relative locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus provided according to the invention a locking device for

locking a first member to a second member comprising: a male lock

member comprising a spindle formed with a first flat friction surface

and means for mounting the spindle onto one of the members; a

female lock member comprising a prismatic friction member nested

within a first cavity formed in the block-like lock member, the cavity

having opposite side surfaces configured to support a reciprocating

sliding movement of the prismatic friction member thereinside, means

for guiding the reciprocating sliding movement of the prismatic friction

member, a second cavity formed in the block-like lock member,

merging from the first cavity and configured to freely receive the

spindle of the male lock member, spring means urging the prismatic

friction member in the direction of the second cavity, a second flat

friction surface, mating the first friction surface formed at the side of

the prismatic friction member facing the second cavity, so that during

insertion of the spindle into the second cavity, the first and the second friction surfaces slide one on the other against the urge of the spring

means and locking means for arresting the prismatic friction member against the reciprocating movement thereof in the friction surfaces mating relations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood in the light of the ensuing description of few preferred embodiments thereof, given by

way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a female lock member

provided according to the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 1b is perspective view of a male lock member of the

locking device;

Figs. 1c, 1d and 1e represent alternative designs of friction

engaging surfaces of the male and female lock members;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental section taken along line ll-ll of Fig. 1a;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the female device member

of Fig. 2 in the engaged, locked position;

Fig. 5 illustrates the application of the locking device

according to the invention to a slidable door or window closing

against a door or window jamb; Fig. 6 illustrates the mounting of the locking device for the

application of the embodiment of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the partly locked

position of the device of the example of Figs. 5 and 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are modifications of the embodiments of Figs.

2-4;

Figs. 10 and 1 1 illustrate the application of the locking device

according to the present invention to lap-top computers; and

Fig. 12 is a modification of the embodiment of Figs. 10 and

1 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Fig. 1 a there is shown a female locking member

generally denoted 10 of a block configuration 12. Block 12 has right

and left sides 12a and 12b, and panel side denoted 12c, and is

formed with a first, throughgoing rectangular passage 14, merging

into a second, mostly circular passage 16.

Within the passage 14, a prismatic lock member 18 is freely

seated, recipocable in the up and down directions. The lock member

18 is provided at its bottom side with a friction surface denoted 18a,

which may be of various types - see Figs. 1 c -1 e.

The reciprocating movement of the lock member 18 can be

blocked by the operation of a standard push-in lock designated 22, using a key 23 (see Fig. 4), a rotatable cylinder lock (see Fig. 8), or

any other suitable key-operated locking devices.

The counter-part of the female lock member 10, namely the

male locking member 24 of Fig. 1 b comprises a generally circular

spindle-like member 26, being formed with a flat surface 28 bearing

thereon a complementary friction surface 28a as will be described

below. A facet 28b is preferably formed as shown. The diameter of

the spindle 26 is slightly less than that of the circular passage

portion 16 of the female member 12, so as to be freely insertable

thereinside.

The spindle 26 is carried by a mounting bracket generally

denoted 30 of any suitable shape which may be changed according

to the application of the locking device (e.g. see Fig. 12). In the

described example, the bracket 30 is provided with mounting legs

32a and 32b with suitable screw openings as shown.

Preferably, for neutralizing altogether the application of the

lock, the spindle 26 may be pivotally mounted to the bracket 30 e.g.

by a pin 34.

As shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3, the reciprocable

friction member 18 is held between walls 14a and 14b of the

rectangular passage 14 in a freely slidable manner, guiding means

being provided in the form of at least one - but preferably two -

guide pins 40a and 40b (Fig. 3), passing through guide slots 42a and 42b, respectively, for allowing a limited up and down movement

of the friction member 18. In the non-operative position shown in

Fig. 2, the friction member 18 is urged by one or more springs 44

pushing from above so that the friction surface 18a bulges or

projects into the circular passage portion 16. The spring 44 may be

installed and supported by press-fit insert pin 45 as shown.

The friction member 18 is further formed with a bore 46, of such

location and size as to cooperate with the push-in lock device 22 (or

equivalent thereof -- see Figs. 8 and 9) which is installed as shown.

As already mentioned, the mating friction surfaces 18a and

28a may take several forms. Thus, in Fig. 1 c the surfaces are simply

zig-zaged; in Fig. 1 d - there is provided one (or more) rounded rib,

adapted to snap into any of the series of grooves constituting the

friction surface 28a; and Fig. 1 e shows the reverse arrangement.

As evident from Fig. 4, presenting the operative, locked position

of the device, the insertion of the spindle 26 into the passage 16 will

cause the frictional engagement of the surfaces 18a and 28a, while

the member 18 clicks up and down over the friction surface 28 of the

spindle 26, and against the bias of the spring 44. At any selected

location, namely any depth of insertion of the spindle 26 into the

cavity 16, a locking position is attainable by pushing the locking

detent 22a of the push-in lock 22 into the bore 46 of the friction

member 18. This arresting or fixation will prevent further insertion or, more importantly, retrieval of the spindle 26, since the frictional

movement of the friction member 18 over the spindle 26 will be blocked.

While the locking device so far described may be used for

general applications, it is particularly useful for locking sliding (and

also hinged) doors or window-wings, as will be now exemplified with reference to Figs. 5-7. As schematically shown, a slide door (or

window) generally denoted D is closable against jamb J. The female locking device generally denoted 110 is mounted to a side frame

member £1 of the door D,. whereas the male member 124 is

mounted to frame member F2 as clearly seen in Fig. 6. The female

member 110 is mounted by screws fitting into suitable bores formed in the block-like casing 112 of the female member 110 and the male

member is mounted by screws as shown in Fig. 6.

The unique feature achieved by the locking device of the

present invention is vividly illustrated in Fig. 7, namely that an

intermediate locking position is attained where a gap L is left

between the door D and door jamb J for the free flow of air

in-between even though the locking device is in its locked position

protecting against unauthorized, forceful intrusion.

In the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9, the push-in lock 22 is

replaced by a common, cylinder-type, eccenter-pin mechanism.

Hence, it will be readily understood that the off-center pin 222a of the lock 222, through rotation by the key 223 changes its location

from the operative, locking position shown in Fig. 8, where the

female lock member 1 18 is locked by the friction engagement with

the spindle 226, into an unlocked position by rotating the pin 222a

by 180° (shown in dashed-lines in Fig 9)

In the application of the invention exemplified in Figs 10 and

1 1 there is shown a lap-top computer generally denoted 300 with

female locking member 310 and male locking member 324 mounted

at the base and cover of the computer respectively The female,

block-shaped member 312 is mounted by a base plate 350, and the

male member -- by s base plate 352

In the locking position (Fig 1 1 ) the spindle 326 may form an

anchor for tying the computer to an immovable object 354, against

theft thereof, by a cable 356

According to the modification of Fig 12, the male friction

member 424 comprises spindle 426 which is detachable from the

cover of the computer 400 This will enable the use of safety cable

456 also when the computer is in its operative, open-cover position

Those skilled in the art will readily understand that numerous

changes, modifications and variations and additional applications

may be applied to tne invention as hereinabove exemplified without

departing from the scope of the invention as defined in and by

appended claims

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A locking device for locking a first member to a second member characterized by -

A. A male lock member (24) comprising:

(I) a spindle (26) formed with a first flat friction surface (28a); and

(ii) means (34) for mounting the spindle (26) onto one of the

members;

B. A female lock member (10) comprising:

(I) a prismatic friction member (18) nested within a first cavity (14),

the cavity having opposite side surfaces configured to support a

reciprocating sliding movement of the prismatic friction member

(18) thereinside;

(ii) means (40a; 40b) for guiding the reciprocating sliding

movement of the prismatic friction member (18);

(iii) a second cavity (16), merging from the first cavity (14) and

configured to freely receive the spindle (26) of the male lock

member (24);

(iv) spring means (44) urging the prismatic friction member (18) in

the direction of the second cavity (16);

(v) a second flat friction surface (18a), matching the first friction

surface (28), formed at the side of the prismatic friction member facing the second cavity (16), so that during insertion of the spindle (26) into the second cavity (16), the first and the second friction surfaces (28a; 18a) slide one on the other against the

urge of the spring means (44); and

(vi) locking means (22) for arresting the prismatic friction member

(18) against the reciprocating movement thereof, in the friction

surfaces mating relation.

2. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the guiding means

comprise a slot (42a;42b) formed in the prismatic friction member

(18) and a pin (40a;40b) passing through the slot.

3. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first and the

second friction surfaces (18a) are zig-zagged.

4. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein one of the friction

surfaces (18a) is composed of a series of grooves and the other

(18a) comprised of at least one rib configured to snap into a groove

of said series.

5. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the spindle (28) is

mounted to a support bracket (32).

6. The locking device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the spindle is

pivotable on said bracket.

7. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the locking means

comprise a key-operated lock (22, 222) having an displaceable operative member (22a;222a) cooperating with a bore (46;246)

formed at the prismatic friction member (18;218).

8. The locking device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the lock (22) is of

the push-in type.

9. The locking device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the lock (222) is of

the cylinder rotatable eccenter type.

10. The locking device of any of the preceding Claims mounted to a slidable door (D) and respective door jamb (J).

11. The locking device of any of the preceding Claims mounted to a slidable window and respective window jamb.

12. The locking device according to any of Claims 1-10 mounted a

portable computer (300).

13. The locking device as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the female lock

member (312) is mounted to the base (310) of a portable computer

and the male lock member to the cover (324) of the computer.

14. The locking device as claimed in Claim 14 wherein a cable (356) is

arrested around the spindle(326), enabling connection thereof to a

stationary object (354).